"Nicola Erni Collection" near Zug
Where Basquiat meets Leibovitz - a portrait of the Swiss art oasis "Nicola Erni Collection".
A hidden gem of contemporary art
The "Nicola Erni Collection" in Steinhausen near Zug is more than just a private museum. Since 2020, collector Nicola Erni has been opening her "extended living room". She is making one of the largest private photo collections in Switzerland and installations of contemporary art accessible.
The museum is located in two striking buildings in Steinhausen and houses works from more than 25 years of passionate collecting. The "Nicola Erni Collection" Switzerland pursues the clear concept of bringing art, architecture and design together.
The collection offers an ideal complement to a cultural stay in the region. Just half an hour's drive away, you will find first-class hotels in Zurich that are part of Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection by American Express:
As a Platinum Card holder, you will also receive attractive benefits when you stay at the hotels. These include a credit worth USD 100 for spending in the hotel and free breakfast for two people every day.
Architectural masterpieces with character
The first collection building of the "Nicola Erni Collection", completed in 2013, has a surface made of Dietfurt shell limestone, giving it an almost sculptural expression. Art objects, pieces of furniture, cleverly placed accessories and elaborate design objects form a colorful symbiosis on the presentation area inside.
The second building, completed in November 2020, sets a completely different tone. The shiny shell with shell-like panels made of a copper-aluminum alloy offers a variety of spaces in between. This allows you to see further or differently through the building from certain points than you might initially expect.
Collection with two focal points
The "Nicola Erni Collection" unites two important branches of the collection under one roof:
- One focuses on photographs from the 1960s and 1970s with a focus on "Zeitgeist & Glamor" as well as an extensive collection of fashion photographs from the 1930s to the present day.
- Contemporary art forms the second major area with paintings, sculptures, drawings and monumental installations.
From Richard Avedon and Jean-Michel Basquiat to Annie Leibovitz, Cindy Sherman and Andy Warhol - the collection includes greats who have shaped the cultural events of several eras.
Exhibitions full of surprises
Large-format individual works by Keith Haring and Ai Weiwei stand alongside a series of works by Rashid Johnson, ranging from early works to the monumental commissioned piece "The Broken Thirteen". You will find works by Jean-Michel Basquiat, including "Riddle Me This, Batman" and collaborations with Andy Warhol.
You can also see the groundbreaking "Mix & Match" exhibition in the collection, which combines fashion photography and contemporary art. These juxtapositions are often surprising and unusual in order to open up new contexts. With around 1,000 works, the collection demonstrates innovative ways of establishing fashion photography as a museum art form.
Your visit to the exhibition and practical information
The "Nicola Erni Collection" near Zug is only accessible as part of guided tours, which are offered free of charge. The guided tours start at 4 pm. A maximum of 25 people can visit the museum. You must register online and show identification at the entrance.
Photography and filming are not permitted, nor is eating and drinking. It's a good thing that there are some great places to eat and drink near the Nicola Erni Collection, such as Più on Postplatz or Restaurant Zur Taube. 15 points from GaultMillau and organic cuisine in the "Taube" speak for themselves.
As an American Express Platinum Card holder, you benefit from additional discounts at the Zug restaurants mentioned and the GaultMillau restaurants in Zurich: You will receive a quarterly refund of CHF 40, provided you spend at least CHF 250 in a GaultMillau restaurant that accepts American Express as a means of payment.
Gold Card or Platinum Card? The choice is yours:
The "Nicola Erni Collection": a private museum with international appeal
The "Nicola Erni Collection" in Steinhausen sets new standards for private art collections in Switzerland. The museum combines homeliness and professionalism and allows visitors to experience top-class art in an intimate setting. The combination of architectural sophistication and curatorial foresight creates an experience that goes far beyond the classic museum visit.
Particularly noteworthy is the courage to innovate, the combination of fashion photography and contemporary art opens up new perspectives. The "Nicola Erni Collection" Switzerland proves that private collections can make an important contribution to the cultural landscape if they are made accessible to the public with the same passion with which they were created.
The Platinum Card from American Express is your ideal companion for this and other cultural experiences. This credit card gives you access to special events that are only open to a select audience.
Frequently asked questions and answers
The "Nicola Erni Collection" is a private art and photography collection near Zug in Switzerland. It includes works by international artists and important photographs.
The Nicola Erni Collection is located in Steinhausen, near Zug in Switzerland. The region is known for its lakes and cultural diversity.
The collection is internationally recognized as it combines art and photography of great influence. It reflects cultural trends and artistic movements of the past decades.
